The cancer test that could change the lives of BRCA carriers

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00:00In 2013, Angelina Jolie was in the limelight, not for a movie, but for this, an op-ed she wrote in

00:07the New York Times about the decision to remove her breasts. She says she did it because her risk

00:12of breast cancer went from 87% to 5%. Two years later, she had her ovaries removed, once again

00:20sharing her reasoning with America. Her public health journey helped raise awareness for a gene

00:25mutation she carried, BRCA1. She also had the CA125 blood marker. Jolie was tested after the loss

00:33of her mother and wanted to make sure she was there for her children. So it's really important

00:37once it's identified in a patient to do what we call cascade genetics, meaning inform your family

00:46about the genetic mutation so other family members can hopefully get tested. Pramil Thacker is the

00:53chief of gynecologic oncology at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. As a leading expert in

00:59gynecological cancer, she knows testing is key. Right now, patients with BRCA markers often choose

01:05risk-reducing surgeries. However, a test that is currently underway in the UK could change all of

01:11that. And this then hopefully could, you know, detect ovarian cancer earlier in order to prevent

01:18women being diagnosed at a later stage. Last month, University College London hospitals

01:24announced a test for women who have a high risk of ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene

01:30alterations, who wish to defer preventative surgery. It's a test Thacker says could save lives.

01:37So the majority of our patients are found stage 3 or 4, which makes it harder to treat, of course.

01:41While the test is only available in the UK right now, Thacker says to expect it here in the United States

01:47very soon. While the test requires three visits a year, based on the willingness of women to get

01:53an annual mammogram, Thacker is optimistic. So I do think that, you know, this is at least a very

01:59reality-based test that can happen for patients easily. For more details on this newest cancer

02:05breakthrough, download our Straight Arrow News app. I'm Diane Duenas.